Display device



Muy 29 1934- P. J. SANDERS ,DISPLAY DEvcE Filed April 28. 1932 Sheets-Sheet 1 oooooo co,

ATTOREYS May 29, 1934. P. J. SANDERS DISPLAY DEVICE Filed April 28 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENToR 'rroRNEY Patented May 29, 1934 4s'mrr.

aNr. clarinI 15 Claims.

My invention relates to display apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for displaying or exhibiting a plurality of charts, cards or samples of sheet-like material, such as wall paper. One object of the invention is to provide such display apparatus in which successive charts, or other articles, may be readily moved to and from a convenient display position without objectionable noise and jarring. Another object is to provide such display apparatus which is compact and reversible, so that a chart or the like after having passed beyond display position may be readily returned to display position without the necessity of operating the whole apparatus forwardly through substantially a complete cycle. Other objects of the invention will appear more fuly from the following detailed description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawings forming a part of this speciiication illustrate one embodiment of `my invention.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fis. 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1 showing the upper portion of the apparatus, the parts being shown in display position in solid lines and in intermediate shifting position in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a detailed view showing the mounting of a display frame.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the preferred construction of display frame.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Fig. 5; and

Figure 'l is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the frame of the apparatus comprises upright standards 1 and 2 at opposite sides of the frame, these standards being connected at their lower ends, as shown, by bars 3. Supported by the standards 1 and 2 adjacent the upper ends thereof is a horizontal shaft 4. Secured to the shaft 4 adjacent the ends thereof are sprockets 5 and 6 respectively around which pass the upper portions of sprocket chains 7 and 8, the lower portions of which engage respectively the sprocket wheels 9 and 10 which are carried by the horizontal shaft 11 rotatably mounted in the standards 1 and 2.

The sprocket chains '7 and 8 serve as an endless carrier for supporting a series of display frames 12 and carrying the same towards and away from display position. Referring to Fig. 4, each of the display frames has adjacent one of the horizontal edges thereof a horizontal projection 14 extending outwardly from each side (Cl. ILO- 104) of the frame and pivotally mounted in one of the links of the adjacent carrier chain, whereby the display frames are pivotally suspended from the carrier chains as shown in Fig. 2. VWhere and a sprocket chain 18 meshing with they sprockets 16 and 17. A crank 19 secured to one end of the shaft 15 permits rotation thereof and of the shaft 4 through the chain and sprocket arrangement 16, 17 and 18.

By means of my apparatus the uppermost of the suspended display frames is automatically lifted upon movement of the carrier to an upright display position, as shown at 20 in Fig. 2, Y and thereupon lowered without jarring to the opposite side of the apparatus. To this end each of the display frames is provided at a'point below the pivot 14 thereof with a horizontal laterally projecting member 21 which is arranged to be engaged by a frame shifting device shown in detail in Fig. 3. This device comprises opposed outwardly iiaring guide members 22 secured to the looped inner ends of the guides. The axis of rotation 25 of the disk 23 is parallel to the axis of the shaft 4 but arranged above the same, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. As a result of this arrangement, rotation of the guides causesthe projections 21 which are engaged thereby to travel inwardly of the guides to the position shown at the upper end of Fig. 3 where the uppermost frame is firmly supported by the corresponding guide in an upright position.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that in the construction shown, each guide 22 in moving one of the display frames to the upright display position moves through 180 while the pivot 14 of the frame moves about the sprocket wheel 5 through The guides 22 are accordingly rotated at an angular velocity twice that of the sprocket. To rotate the guides in synchronism or timed relation with the carrier, the shaft 26 supporting disk 23 is connected to the shaft 15 (see Fig. 1) by means of a sprocket 2'7 secured i latter is revolved at double the angular. velocity of the shaft 15 and the shaft 4, the sprockets 16 and 17 being of the same diameter.

The display frame is preferably formed to support a card, or sheet-like material, on each of its two opposite faces. Referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the frame is formed at each of its vertical edges with a pair of strips 30 bent over to provide recesses 31 into which the side edge portions of the cards may be slid and retained. The bottom of each frame is formed of strips having bent over portions 32 at opposite faces of the frame providing recesses 33 into which the lower edge portions of the charts may be inserted and. retained. As shown in Fig. 5, the upper edges of the parts 32 are inclined upwardly towards the center of the frame to provide an inclined edge 33 to facilitate the insertion of the card into the frame. The strips forming the lower portion of the frame have their inner edge portions turned inwardly towards each other, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and secured together by soldering. The contacting ends of the various frame strips may be secured together in any suitable way, as by soldering or riveting. The upper end of each frame comprises transverse strips 34.-, the inner ends of which are directed inwardly and secured together as by soldering. A spring clip 35 pivoted at 36 to the frame member 34 may be positioned over the upper edge portion of the card to secure the same firmly in position in the frame. All of the parts of the display frame thus far described may be made of thin sheet metal. To reenforce the frame and also to provide the projection 21 for engagement by the guides 22, I provide the member 37, the body of which is in the form of a rectangular loop, and the ends of which are secured together as shown at 38 to provide the projecting member 21. The looped shaped portion of the member 37 has, as shown, three sides which are arranged along the periphery of the frame between the adjacent side and top frame strips 30 and 34 respectively, being secured thereto as by soldering. The fourth side of the loop 37 extends across the frame as shown. The resulting frame construction is light and strong and affords means for retaining a display card or the like on each face of the frame.

In operation, the cards or the like to be displayed or exhibited are placed in the display frames 34. By rotating the crank 19 the carrier 7, 8 may be advanced to bring one of the display frames to the uppermost portion of the carrier, during which movement the frame is shifted about its pivot by one of the members 22 to the upright display position shown at the top of Fig. 2, in which position the said frame is firmly held against dropping by engagement of the projection 21 of the frame with the narrow inner portion of the member 22. With the parts in this position, two frames are in display position, to wit, the upright frame referred to and also the next following frame in the series, which latter frame is now suspended in full view, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It will be noted that opposite faces of the frame are displayed in the two positions referred to, so that the apparatus serves to display the card or the like supported on each face of the frame. Further rotation of the crank 19 carries the top frame from its upright position to the rear of the apparatus, the guide 22 coacting with the projection 21 on the frame to retard. the downward movement of the frame to prevent noise and jarring. While one frame is thus being carried from its upright position to the rear of the apparatus, another frame is being carried from the uppermost suspended position at the front of the apparatus to the upright position at the top of the apparatus.

The manner in which the frames are shifted about their pivots during the travel of the carrier will appear clearly by reference to Fig. 3. Referring to that figure, and assuming the member 23 and the guides 22 carried thereby to be rotating clockwise, the right hand portion of the lower guide 22 will engage the projection 21 in the lower lefthand portion of that figure upon advance of the carrier chain and the rotation of the `member 23. Continued operation of the apparatus in the same direction will cause the frame projection 21 to travel along the said guide member as shown in dotted lines at the left of said figure; and further operation will eventually `bring the frame l2 to its uppermost position as or display position is to the rear and the opposite face in the front or display position. Further operation of the apparatus causes the frame to be tion 21 now resting upon the opposite side of the guide 22 until the frame has advanced fully to the rear of the apparatus whereupon the said projection passes below the guide and the frame is freely suspended at the rear of the apparatus.

It willbe seen by reference to Fig. 3 that if the direction of operation of the apparatus be reversed the frames are in like manner carried from the rear of the apparatus to the front thereof. It is accordingly possible to readily bring cards or the like back to display position without the necessity of moving the whole apparatus forward through a substantially complete cycle.

It is to be understood that modifications andA changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

1 claim: l

1. The combination of an upright carrier, a series of display devices pivotally suspended therefrom, operating means, means movable by said operating means for moving said carrier, and means movable by said operating means in timed relation to said carrier moving means for succescarried downwardly and to the rear, the projecsively moving said display devices about their pivotal axes from a pendant position to a reversed upright position and for supporting the said devices against falling while in an upright position.

2. The combination of an upright endless carrier, a series of display devices pivotally suspended said display devices about their pivots from a CIS pendant position to an upright position and for supporting said devices against falling during the downward movement thereof about their pivots.

4. The combination of an upright endless carrier, a series of display devices pivotally suspended therefrom, means for moving said carrier, and means including a guide member rotatable in timed relation to the travel of the carrier for successively moving said display devices about their pivots from a pendant position to an upright position and for supporting said devices against falling during the downward movement thereof about their pivots.

5. The combination of a support, a member suspended therefrom, and means coacting with said member for elevating the same and retarding the dropping thereof with respect to said support, said means including a rotary outwardly flared guide.

6. An endless carrier, a rotary support therefor, a member pivotally suspended therefrom, and a rotary outwardly flared guide coacting with said member and movable in timed relation to the travel of the carrier for moving the member about its pivot, said guide having its axis above the axis of said rotary support.

7. An endless carrier, a rotary support therefor, a member pivotally suspended therefrom, a rotary outwardly flared guide having its axis arranged above the axis of said rotary support, said member having means arranged to coact with said guide, means for rotating said rotary support and for rotating said guide at an angular velocity a plurality of times that of said support.

8. An endless carrier, a rotary support therefor, a series of display devices pivotally suspended therefrom, a rotary member having opposed outwardly flaring guides, said member having its axis above the axis of said rotary support, said display devices having means arranged to successively coact with said guide, means for rotating said support and for rotating said member at an angular velocity a plurality of times that of said support.

9. The combination of a support, and a frame suspended therefrom, and having means for moving said frame upon said support, said means including a member having a portion arranged at the periphery of the frame and a portion projecting laterally from the frame.

l0. The combination of a support, and a frame suspended therefrom and comprising sheet supporting means on opposite faces and a member having a projecting end and a loop shaped portion reinforcing the frame.

11. The combination of an upright endless carrier, a rotary support therefor, a series of display devices pivotally suspended therefrom, each of said devices having a lateral projection, means for rotating said support to move said carrier, and means for moving the display devices at the upper portion of the carrier about their pivots to successively position the said devices in display position, said last-named means including a rotatable member having its axis above the axis of said rotary support and having opposed outwardly flaring guide means arranged to coaet with the said projections, and means for rotating said rotary member at an angular velocity a plurality of times that of said rotary support.

12. The combination of an upright carrier, a series of display devices pivotally suspended therefrom, and means operable in reversed or opposite directions for moving said carrier and successively moving said display devices about their pivotal axes from a pendant position to a reversed upright position.

13. The combination of a carrier, a series of display devices movably supported thereby, operating means, means movable by said operating means for moving said carrier, and means movable by said operating means in timed relation to said carrier moving means for successively elevating said display devices relatively to said carrier from a lower display position to an upright display position and for supporting said devices against falling while in an upright position.

14. The combination of an endless carrier, a series of display devices movably supported thereby, means for moving said carrier, and means operable in timed relation to the movement of said carrier for successively elevating said display devices relatively to said carrier from a lower posi-1 tion to an upright position and for supporting said devices against falling during the downward movement thereof relatively to said carrier to resist jarring thereof.

15. 'I'he combination of a carrier, a series of display devices pivotally supported thereby, and means for successively elevating said display devices relatively to the said carrier in timed relation to the movement of the carrier and for supporting said display devices against falling during the downward movement thereof to resist jarring thereof.

PAUL J. SANDERS. 

